Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fall in formation little soldier!!!!

As a stay at home Mom it is pretty common for your life to settle into a routine. I find myself doing the exact same task at the exact same moment everyday. Although it may seem like my life is stuck on repeat, it's actually really comforting to have those moments. I know that it makes my children feel really secure to have a routine. I'm not making any effort to establish these daily rituals at all. Our life has slowly settled after the birth of Koen and Griffin starting back up at school this year. Most of these rituals are normal everyday things that take place in every household everyday. Things like, making breakfast, loading the dishwasher, forcing your child to stop what he is doing and put on his shoes, etc.

Well, there is one ritual that takes place in our home every evening at 5:58 pm. It cracks me up when it happens because it is just so ridiculous. Here is what happens...

I'm in the kitchen throwing dinner together.I look just like this...minus the apron and perfectly coiffed hair.

Griffin is in the living room watch Arthur on PBS.He is entranced and happy as can be.It's a win/win situation.

As I cook, I am closely watching the clock.I am peering out the window and surveying the drivewayfor Roger's car pulling up after his long commute home from work.Roger has but one request and that isthat the television be turned off and that we greethim with complete love and adoration at the door.

His fantasy looks something like this.

In order to create the perfect greeting for RogerI have to synchronize his arrival with the turning off of the television.Griffin and I both like waiting until the very last moment to turn it off.I get to cook in peace and he gets to watch the end of his show.So...I am like a little wizard in the kitchen.Tossing food in the oven, setting the table,shoving a pacifier in Koen's mouth as heplays in his exersaucer.

Then, the moment comes whenRoger pulls up in the driveway at 5:58 pm.I scream to Griffin in the living room"Dad's home...quick, tun off the TV!!!"

Griffin runs like a bat out of helland turns off the TV as fast as he can.Then he runs like a good little soldier to the windowand peeks at Dad walking up the steps to the front door.He jumps up an down and shouts"Hi Dad!"out the window as Rogerunlocks the front door.

I grab Koen and toss him on my hip.We all migrate to the front doorwith love and excitement to hug Roger.We pull off Roger's blissful welcoming everydaythe exact same way.We are like a well oiled machine.

It's the least we can dofor the man who works so hardto bring home the bacon!

61 comments:

Wow! Well oiled machine is right! The only thing I do with any consistency is take a nap after I drop the monsters off at school! I keep telling myself I need to get motivated to get important things like cleaning and laundry done... *sigh* Maybe one day...

I am trying a new ritual/routine at our house lately. I am trying to watch the news while I cook dinner instead of the kids watching their cartoons. I have no idea what's going on in the world...and it sucks.

We should also probably try to greet Dan this way, at least some of the time. Although the girls usually get up and run to him most days as soon as they hear the garage door opening....

I think its awesome. You know, I actually looked forward to having moments like that while I was pregnant. There is just something about June Cleaver and domestic life that really draws me. Maybe its because I have to work...but my time off this past summer with Girl was awesome. I even grew my own herb garden and had fresh stuff to cook with. I actually dusted (which I hate) and we went for long walks. It was awesome!

Love the photos you chose for this post. *Sigh* Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era...

I think you just described my household..LOL, only without baby. Ours is similar. I'm cooking supper while kids are watching or playing video games and it all gets turned off to meet daddy at the door everyday, and then we all sit down to eat supper. How great!! love it. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does this...

hahahaa!! YES YES YES!! we do the same thing!! i always have the hubs call me when he leaves and then i set the timer! we do a last minute clean sweep and assume our roles as doting family!! LOVE IT leigh!

Hahah, oh to be this cute! I think the only routine that we have is everyday when hubby comes home for lunch, I have his lunch already done or cooking in the microwave. And I'm usually in the baby's room at the changing table working over a dirty diapey. Everyday. But this, this is much much cuter and far less messy and requires no plugging of noses. I'm jealous!

Very nice. I have to say I'm impressed! My kids always scream and yell and run to the door when daddy comes home. But he has such irregular hours that a lot of the time they're in bed when he gets home. So the greeting is all up to me...so I strip and dance on the table.

I'm not worthy! I want to run to greet my husband with love and adoration when he arrives home, but I'm usually so overwhelmed and exhausted from work and the kids and taking care of the house/dogs/bills/miscellaneous life stuff that I can barely muster up the energy to drag my sorry carcass out of the kitchen to mumble, "Hi, honey." My only real routine is the glass of merlot at the end of the day. Cheers!

I am falling over laughin here! Lately when my husband comes home I am on the computer or trying to get off the computer before he gets to my office. The kids are still at work (they are 20 now) and it's been along time since we met him at the door. I know when we did all meet him when he walked through the dorr he absolutely loved it. Good on you!!!

Despite the sweet nature of this ritual, I will say that if the TV stayed on just a little longer and he joined you in the kitchen, there could definitely be something more than a quick pat on the butt HAHA!My husband is the opposite, if he could sneak in undetected and magically appear 10 or 15 minutes later, he'd be happy.

I really should make more of an effort with the welcome home greeting. I'm usually cooking and he kisses me on the fly and then searches around the house for the kids. That's bad. Thanks for opening my eyes :)

You know, I had someone scoff at me one time, because I said I liked to have a happy, clean peaceful home greeting my husband when he walks in the door at night. They called me a throwback to the 50's and said I was bringing the women's movement along with me.

I'm sorry. I'm a progressive woman, equal in every way to my husband, who chose to stay home and raise my daughters. Thanking the man who brings home the bacon by giving him a peaceful, tidy home to come to, does not demean me or the progress of women's rights in any way.

You know what... I hope this is a real thing. Sincerely. Most women would get upset over the idea of taking the time to greet a husband with smiles and hugs, because "we are too progressed." Who wouldn't want to be greeted by the person/family you love with smiles and hugs? What's a few extra minutes of time and effort to make the home life wonderful? Greg usually gets home before I do from work... and I always see his smiling face. It helps me to let go of the work day. I'll have to remember this for the days I get home before him. Thank you for this post. It's wonderful!

What he doesn't know won't hurt him! We always try to greet Dad at the door, too. My son was playing at a friend's house and when the kid's dad came home my son asked him how his day was. The dad was absolutely shocked because NO ONE had ever asked him that before! So sad!

I love this! So much. I try to make a big deal about my husband coming home too. Usually though I am like, Don't forget to take out the trash. Can you get the trash from upstairs in the bathroom? How was your drive? Did it take you an hour? See, I knew it was only 45 minutes. You complain for nothing. Can I have the mortgage payment?

How sweet! I used to do "something" like that many moons ago but something happened and we fell out of doing it. Now we pass each other as one is coming home and the other is leaving. Hang on to it as long as you can!

I love it! Just reading your favorite three posts has made me admire your family for the normal humor and sincerity you use to portray this season of life. Sometimes I wish I could communicate so smoothly in a way that people would nod and smile knowingly. Well Done!!

Impressive! The kids still tackle hubs in adoration, but sometimes its all I can do to throw him a sideways glance and a "PLEASE HELP ME!" plea when he walks in. :) Maybe its the 3rd kid that put us over the edge?!?

We have a similar routine--mine involves touching up my makeup, though, so I don't greet him looking like a total hagso he doesn't run back out the door, preferring to go back to work than look at my tired mug.

Loving your blog, Leigh! We do the door greet with my Hubby and his shop is right next door. Everyday, I greet Hubby at the door with a hug and a kiss, and everyday, my four kiddies laugh at how silly we are. :D

About Me

My name is Leigh and this blog follows my misadventures as a stay at home mom. Read as I juggle housework, motherhood, creativity, and delusions of grandeur. I am inept throwback to the 1950′s housewife, so this blog gives a modern twist to a retro lifestyle. With a focus on the drama and joys of everyday life, sometimes heartfelt but usually hilarious observations unfold. All the while my ignored laundry pile grows by leaps and bounds.